The New York State Attorney General is proposing that physicians be required to report prescriptions on controlled substances, including opioids, to an online database to prevent duplicate prescriptions for the same patient, according to a report by Empire State News.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's proposed legislation would also require pharmacists to report dispensing of drugs for the same purpose. The legislation would cover Schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances.
The legislation would address rising abuse of prescription opioids in the state. For example, the number of oxycodone prescriptions increased by 66 percent in New York City from 2007-2009. When the manufacturer of OxyContin altered its current formula to prevent abuse, prescriptions for another opioid, Opana ER, increased.
Read the Empire State News report on opioid abuse.
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